October 2, 2025 -Faith & Works on the Mount

MARK 3:7-19

LUKE 6:12-16

MATTHEW 5:1-12

LUKE 6:17-26

MATTHEW 5:13-48

LUKE 6:27-36

MATTHEW 6:1-4

Chronological Bible Readings

The sermon on the mount is packed full of great stuff. Today it reminds me of the scripture for this coming Sunday James 2:14-26. It is the section on faith and deeds.

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

If we have a true faith, then our lives should reflect that faith. One of the lessons I listened to said that God can see our heart, and He knows our faith, but man can't see our hearts. When we live out or faith in action with good deeds then our faith becomes evident to everyone. When the light of Jesus is put on a stand to that everyone around us can see our good deeds then they too can see Jesus and may come to glorify the God.

Matthew 5:33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

When we have true faith we will stand on our word. When we say yes to something we will do it. When we say no that's not right, we will not change our minds because those yeses and noes will be based on scripture and be truth.

We can look at all the teaching in the sermon on the mount and see that works must come from faith.

Luke 6:32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

It is possible to do good works without faith. Many people do. But their good works are all about what they want to do. How does it make them feel. Who might deserve their kindnesses. As a believer in Christ our good works should be more than what a non-believer would do. Our works should come from a heart filled with the Holy Spirit who gives us the power and ability to love the unlovable, give generously without concern for repayment, love and pray for those who oppose us. When we live for Christ our actions show it and our faith shows through consistently living and acting like Christ. Then our good works will be used by God to glorify His name and grow the kingdom of God where we will one day see and be rewarded in that magnificent evidence.